tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17352333405283333412014-09-30T23:12:26.116-07:00Avner Magen (1968-2010)Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-21419195906524443872011-04-20T12:20:00.000-07:002011-04-20T12:25:35.404-07:00The Magen Family, together with the Departments of<br />Computer Science and Mathematical and Computational<br />Sciences Mississauga invite friends and colleagues to a<br />reception in memory of Professor Avner Magen.<br /><br />When: Friday, May 27, 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.<br /> Remembrances begin at 4:15pm<br />Where: Massey College, Common Room,<br /> University of Toronto, 4 Devonshire Place, Toronto.<br /><br />In addition to the reception the Computer Science Theory<br />Group will be hosting the inaugural lecture of an annual<br />series in memory of Professor Magen.<br /><br />When: Friday, May 27, 11am.<br />Where: Rm 1190, Bahen Centre, 40 St. George Street.<br />Speaker: Professor Nathan Linial of the School of Computer<br />Science and Engineering, Hebrew University of Jerusalem<br />Title: "What is high dimensional combinatorics?"Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-47565302468706465432010-07-18T19:03:00.000-07:002010-08-30T08:06:32.447-07:00Yotam EviatarIf you hear me up there, in heaven, I love you.<br />There is no great uncle in the world like you.<br />And if I'm wrong, you are the greatest uncle in<br />outer space.<br />Unfortunately I can not tell you how much I've<br />changed and how much I miss you.<br /><br />I didn't see you lot of times since you left to Toronto,<br />and now I don't have a chance to ask what about you<br />and Roy, Noa and Ofri.<br /><br />But do not worry about it, I saw all your children which<br />are also my cousins and I saw Ayelet and all her family.<br />I miss you and I hope no matter what I am going to meet<br />you.<br /><br />Miss you and also miss Ayelet, Roy, Noa, and Ofri.Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-86132851212527932532010-06-15T07:07:00.000-07:002010-06-15T07:10:10.450-07:00Anton PiatigorskyDear Ayelet, Ro'ee, No'a and Ofri,<br /><br />Although we first met years ago, only recently did I have<br />the opportunity to get to know Avner a bit better. During<br />two recent play dates with Ofri and my son Reuben, I had the<br />chance to speak at length with him about his work and mine,<br />our lives, Toronto's old shore line, travel, etc. I liked<br />him immensely. In the second play date, at your house, just<br />a couple of weeks before he died, we spoke of Etgar Keret's<br />stories, among other things, and I was greatly touched when<br />Avner brought out a collection and proceeded to read me the<br />story "Second Chance", translating as he read. So rarely<br />does one adult read to another, especially for such a simple<br />reason – because he loved a piece of writing and thought I<br />would enjoy it. I thought it was such a simple and heartfelt<br />act of generosity on his part.<br /><br />That story has particular resonance - as clear from the<br />title. I doubt I'll ever forget it, or his reading. Nor will<br />I forget him. I was excited by the prospect of my new<br />friendship with Avner. I'm sick with grief at your loss.Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-72077572396472929212010-06-12T08:20:00.001-07:002010-06-12T08:20:53.699-07:00Allison DoerrI met Avner when my husband Iannis was a postdoc at the University of Toronto. Whenever I would work from Iannis's office, Avner would often stop by to chat about their research. There was always a lot of laughter and references to <span style="font-style: italic;">Curb Your Enthusiasm</span>. Avner was always friendly and smiling; it was clear that he was very well liked by all of the graduate students and postdocs in the computer science department.<br /><br />One memorable day, Avner and Iannis were working on a proof on the whiteboard. The proof was so complex that they ran out of Greek letters to use as variables, so Avner, with a glint in his eye, decided they needed to invent a new symbol which he called "<span style="font-style: italic;">xona</span>". Much laughter ensued; Avner was so pleased and amused by his invention. Several months later he recounted the story in an impromptu speech at our wedding; remembering it even now still makes me laugh. <br /><br />My best wishes to Avner's family who have suffered an unthinkable loss; I hope you find the strength to heal. We will miss Avner very much.Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-33754379138940330772010-06-12T08:13:00.000-07:002010-06-12T08:18:53.817-07:00Shimi Tagner and family<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><b><u>אבנר</u></b></span><br /></p><br /><br />כך באמצע שנות חייך<br /><br />שהחיים היפים עוד לפניך<br /><br />קשה לעמוד ולהספיד אדם<br /><br />שבנסיבות טראגיות ליבו נדם.<br /><br /><br />אבנר,היית לכולנו נר<br /><br />נר שדולק ומאיר את הדרך<br /><br />אדם עם אישיות ובעל ערך<br /><br />הקמת משפחה לתפארת<br /><br />אתה ורעייתך איילת.<br /><br /><br />הקדשת מזמנך הפנוי לחינוך ומשחק<br /><br />ולא התלוננת על עייפות וכוחך נשחק<br /><br />את כישוריך העריכו מאוד ילדיך<br /><br />וכעת יהיה להם קשה בלעדיך<br /><br />את אהבתך לילדים ולאיילת<br /><br />הקדשת למסעדה,טיול בהרים,או בטיילת<br /><br />אדם צנוע וישר<br /><br />ומעל הכל גם יקר<br /><br /><br />אהבתך לטיולים בחגים ובשבתות<br /><br />סחפה את כל המשפחה בחוויות<br /><br />אך בליבך עמוק,היה נטוע תחביב<br /><br />ולא חשוב אם זה בחורף או באביב<br /><br />והוא אתגר בטיפוס על כל הר<br /><br />שבסופו הביא את מותך המר.<br /><br /><br />ולכם עופרי,נועה,רועי ואיילת מגן<br /><br />אלוהים ישמור עליכם,ויגן<br /><br />הכאב עם הסתלקותך הוא חד<br /><br />וזיכרונך יישאר עימנו לעד.<br /><br /><br />יהיה זכרך ברוך<br /><br /><br />איתכם תמיד משפחת טגנר:אתי וזאב,שלומית,אורן ועדי,רומי ושי,שימי קרן וגל.<br /><br /><div> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><b><u>Avner</u></b></span><br /></p> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">In The middle life <br />Beautiful life ahead of you <br />It is Difficult to eulogize a man <br />That In Tragic circumstances is Heart had stopped. <br /><br />Avner, you have been a candle for all of us <br />A Candle that was lighting the way <br />A person with valuable personal <br />You have Establish a wonderful family <br />You and your wife Ayelet. <br /><br />You have dedicate your spare time to education and play</span></p> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">And did not complained of fatigue <br />Your children appreciated Your skills very much</span></p> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">And Now It will be hard without you <br />Your love for your children and Ayelet <br />Dedicate to the restaurant, a trip to the mountains, or stroll <br />Modest and honest person <br />Above all beloved. <br /><br />Your love for travel during holidays and on Saturdays <br />Swept the whole family experiences <br />But deep in your heart, was planted the Hobby <br />No matter if it's winter or spring <br />This is the challenge to climb any mountain <br />Eventually led to the bitter death. <br /><br />And To you Ofri, Noa, Roee Ayelet Magen <br />God protect you <br />The pain with your death is sharp</span></p> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Your memory will remain with us forever. </span><br /></p> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">Blessed be your memory</span><br /></p> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><b>Always with you Tagner's Family: Eti &amp; Zeev ,Shlomit, Oren &amp; Adi, Romi &amp; Shay , Shimi Keren &amp; Gal.<br /></b></span></p></div><br /></div>Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-58243960055146450922010-06-09T21:17:00.001-07:002010-06-09T21:17:47.187-07:00Jeremy ChoFor me, one of Avner's greatest strengths as an adviser was<br />his sharp attention to detail and desire to understand every<br />step of an argument that was presented to him. At first I<br />found this to be intimidating and often spent late nights<br />before meetings refining my proofs and even attempting to<br />predict the clarifying questions he would ask. As a result,<br />I gradually began crystalizing my thoughts in the same way<br />that Avner did - with an intuitive geometric picture instead<br />of the rambling narrative I was so accustomed to. The fact<br />that he treated my ideas with a level of respect and<br />interest normally reserved for seasoned researchers also<br />provided a vital boost to my self-confidence at a time when<br />I was unsure about my place in graduate school.<br /><br />There are many Avner moments that will be forever etched in<br />my memory - our multi-part conversations on the merits of<br />the phrase "it is what it is", the day I walked into his<br />combinatorial optimization final with an arsenal of Red<br />Bulls and the good-natured ribbing I received in the many<br />months to follow, and the endless amusement he derived from<br />my dependency on goose-down jackets on days when he would be<br />wearing shorts. In one of our last conversations, I shared<br />with him my dilemna of what I should do following my<br />Master's degree and the response I got was typical Avner -<br />honest, thoughtful, encouraging, and of course peppered with<br />his irreplaceable sense of humor. For all these reasons and<br />more, I will never forget him.Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-33690431732431192852010-06-09T21:16:00.000-07:002010-06-09T21:18:36.369-07:00Cathy IndigI will remember Avner fondly for a man who truly adored his<br />family. I was able to witness his relationship with Ofri on<br />a daily basis as the two of them came in each morning,<br />usually with rosy cheeks from the bike ride they has just<br />taken. Rain, sun or snow, they pedaled their way to the<br />MNjcc. Avner always had a smile on his face and it was quite<br />evident that he adored his son. They would both come in<br />happy and singing.<br /><br />Avner, we will miss you dearly.Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-8231297486265490342010-06-09T05:41:00.001-07:002010-06-09T05:41:28.450-07:00Ken MontgomeryWhile travelling in Romania, it was with great shock and<br />sadness that I heard the news about Avner. I am still in<br />Europe presenting academic papers and thus unable to attend<br />the memorial service. Avner so obviously loved his family<br />and I cannot begin to comprehend how this loss impacts each<br />of them. To Avner, thank you for your sharing of<br />adventures, your always supportive conversation while I<br />sorted out challenges in my life, those coffee chats in<br />which we humourously tried to make sense of one another's<br />academic work, your friendship and support for the<br />friendship between Rie and Noa, and for your many generous<br />smiles. To say that you will be missed is obviously<br />understaing it. To Ayelet and the children, please accept<br />my most sincere condolences.Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-27297874909983515632010-06-08T20:26:00.001-07:002010-06-09T10:18:16.980-07:00Cole ZemelAvner is unforgettable. Every time I saw him, he drew<br />my attention. I had a lot of fun times with him and his<br />family and I want to tell Roy, Noa, Ofri and Ayelet that I<br />am incredibly sorry and if there is anything I can do to<br />help just let me know. Roy, Noa and I will definitely have<br />a trampoline party soon! And we can eat some more amazing<br />guacamole with Ayelet.<br /><br />Avner is a daredevil and a real go-getter. Always up for a<br />new climbing trip or marathon. He died doing something he<br />loved.<br /><br />Lots of love, Cole ZemelRichard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-40717559791622462322010-06-08T20:25:00.000-07:002010-06-08T20:26:24.734-07:00Ella PitassiIt was such terrible and shocking news to hear about<br />Avner's loss. It is still so hard to believe since it is<br />definitely not right. It was just a couple of weeks ago<br />when I last saw him when the Magen family came over for<br />dinner. It always has to be that the best people leave us<br />though.<br /><br />Avner always had a positive outlook on life. He was so<br />funny as he knew how to make everyone laugh no matter what<br />the situation was. Clearly he was active and very<br />inspiring. He was also great company and overall an<br />amazing father, friend and just a great person.<br /><br />Roy, Noa, Ofri, and Ayelet I am so sorry this had to happen<br />to you. I cannot imagine how hard it is for you right now.<br />You 4 are great though and you have so many friends and<br />loving family members and we all are here for you if you<br />need or want anything!Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-40403333553217618942010-06-08T09:08:00.001-07:002010-06-08T09:11:04.751-07:00Antonina KolokolovaI met Avner during his postdoc time at UofT. We talked<br />sometimes in the theory corridor, mainly about Russian<br />language (he once asked me how to say "diapers" in Russian<br />-- I didn't know) and Russian music. There were many songs<br />that both of us knew, mainly songs by Vladimir Vysotsky.<br />And there is one of these songs, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJJFfhkyCgI"> "the summit"</a>, <br />that I keep thinking of ever since I heard the tragic news.<br /><br />The song is about mountaineers, and one last summit they<br />don't get to reach. About the beauty and the ultimate danger<br />of such life: and yet that it is a better end than "from<br />drinking and colds". About the characteristic traits of<br />mountaineers -- friendship, courage, appreciation for the<br />beauty of nature. Like Avner...Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-14426373478650227252010-06-07T17:55:00.000-07:002010-06-07T17:56:22.496-07:00Sue McGlashanIt has taken me some time to know what I wanted to say about Avner. I saw the quieter side of him, but better understand his small smile when he asked me to join his seminars on this campus - he knew that my math was not at the standard to understand much, but he still included me.<br /><br />On the 6th June I cycled the Becel 50 km, dedicating the ride to Avner, and stopping for a while at 10 A.M. It was cold, very wet, and very windy, and I might not have gone to cycle if it had not been for the image I had of Avner shaking his head. I know he would have been laughing at and with me, and despite the conditions, I enjoyed that event.<br /><br />I will remember him when I cycle and run. He lived for living. Thank you, Ayelet, for understanding why I wanted to cycle.Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-18579659680634766522010-06-07T17:53:00.001-07:002010-06-07T17:53:54.946-07:00Jennifer L. SalterI shared a taxi with Avner last fall to the start of the Toronto marathon. Andrew suggested we go together, and spoke of Avner as a good friend and good person. On the way there, Avner told me he had missed qualifying for the Boston marathon before by a close margin, and was intending on trying again to run a time of 3:20 - which he did. He gave me advice in preparation of running my first marathon as well.<br /><br />I ran into him at the Purim carnival at the JCC in April - he was helping Ofri on some preschool play equipment and seemed so sweet with him. <br /><br />I am so sorry that this happened. It is so unfair.Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-7167655681694926852010-06-07T17:43:00.000-07:002010-06-07T17:50:48.253-07:00Jaikumar Radhakrishnan<p>I met Avner when I visited the Hebrew University in 1996. I am certain I did not meet him on the first day. He wrote to me about six months ago: "The news is that I am arriving to India with Roy (13 yo, born the day you came to huji if I remember correctly...)." When we did meet, a few days later, he was working in the lab and listening to music on his radio. </p><p>We met and talked often. I learnt that he had visited central Asia and climbed mountains there. He showed me pictures of many of these places, including a rocky peak (in Turkey I think), where you shouted something each time you dislodged a rock and sent it crashing down, so that climbers below could watch out. I learnt that he loved the sounds of the Russian language, and had picked it just by listening. My Russian-speaking friends confirmed that he was excellent at it. </p><p>He tried to teach me to climb. He took me a few times to practise at the Valley of Hinnom. One of these visits I remember quite vividly today. Since traversing the rocks there was rather easy for him, he did not bring any helmets for us. He allowed me, however, to use my bicycling helmet. He told me about how he spent some time climbing in Switzerland in the company of a Scotsman, and imitated his accent. He was very patient, when my limbs did not respond to the Scotsman's commands. I also remember the conversation while we were packing up as the sun was going down. He suddenly stopped and said: "You are not interested in what I am saying. You are not paying attention". To redeem myself, I immediately repeated the three previous sentences. He said: "That does not mean you were paying attention. Ayelet does the same thing all the time!" A few weeks later, he promised to take me on a more challenging climb. He came home on Friday morning. My parents were visiting us then. I remember him mentioning to me as we got into his car that my father asked him "his good name." He was amused when he heard that this was some sort of politeness translated from Hindi into English. He thought hard as to why one would say such a thing, as if considering if it was a custom he would want to adopt himself. </p><p>As the time approached for us to leave Jerusalem, Sumana and I were invited for dinner. We met Ayelet for the first time at their place. In the years since, I have met him off and on, each time renewing old memories and forming new ones. I visited him in Toronto and stayed at their place: Royi had grown up and Noa was still very small. Noa and I got along so very well, I got a certificate from Ayelet for being good with small kids. Avner had to cut it off by saying that it was bedtime, not time to be silly. He took me to an ice hockey stadium near his home. </p><p>He got in touch a few months before his visit to India in December 2009. When we met in Kanpur, he seemed very happy. I invited him to Mumbai, but he had already planned the visit to Nepal. </p><p>We will miss his warmth. Whenever he was around, the world just seemed very comfortable, rather the world did not seem to matter. He smiled, he mocked, he understood, he explained, and whatever did not yield to these, he just took in his stride. </p><p>I wish to convey my deepest respect to the members of his family, some of whose messages I just read here. I respected Avner for his originality and independence, but believe what we admired in him was derived after all from those he was closest to. I draw comfort from the fact that these virtues still survives in them, and hope that recognising this will help them get over the terrible tragedy of his passing.</p>Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-59456271783135017532010-06-05T12:36:00.000-07:002010-06-05T12:48:23.149-07:00Edna & Avi WigdersonDear Ayelet, Ro'ee, No'a and Ofri,<br /><br />It was with great shock and sadness that we received the news of Avner's death. It is so hard to translate feelings to words.<br /><br />Avner was a colleague and friend. He was a graduate student at the Hebrew University when we were there, and later a postdoc in Princeton after we moved there. We have seen the kids born, and grow up, also after Ayelet and Avner made Toronto their home - a home it was always fun to stay over for the night, play and laugh with the kids and adults.<br /><br />Avner had over the years a special connection with our oldest son Eyal, also a climber, which added another dimension to our friendship with Avner. Here is a small story about how this started.<br /><br />Climbers face many dilemmas, which on the mountain are often truly life and death ones. And of course, their family and friends share concerns and dilemmas when they are on the mountain. This story is about a minor dilemma, faced by Avner many years ago, which started our special relationship. It was the first thing we both immediately remembered upon hearing the news of Avner's death.<br /><br />It was 12 years ago. Avner was still a PhD student at the Hebrew University, and already an experienced ice climber. Our son Eyal was just 16, already a rock climber and wishing to begin his first steps of ice climbing. It was summer, and Eyal was in the Alps, about to climb Mont Blanc. Avner was aware of these plans, as both Eyal and us consulted him about it. The day before Eyal's planned ascent Avner came to talk to us. He said he has deliberated this conversation a few days, not knowing if to talk to us or not, and he finally decided to do it.<br /><br />Avner told us that four friends of his has climbed Mont Blanc a few days earlier, and when descending, one of them slipped and fell to his death. He knew how concerned we were about this whole idea. He knew that we knew that death on the mountain is part of ice climbing, often for reasons beyond climbers' control. He knew how much Eyal wanted to do it. And he knew that Eyal is young enough for us to veto his climbing. So should he tell us something we already know (in principle), and endanger Eyal's plans? And if he doesn't tell and something happens, or if he does tell and we veto the trip, does he bear responsibility? The mountain generates far stranger and greater dilemmas.<br /><br />That memorable day we were spared our own dilemma - what should we tell Eyal. He called to say that he decided to cancel this ascent, as the weather did not look good. But of course, Eyal's continued climbing career generated other dilemmas for us, and plenty more, for him. Avner shared our pride of Eyal's achievements, and listened to our fears andconcerns. There was only one person to talk to, within the span of minutes, about the relative advantages of different ice screws, and about proof complexity. It was wonderful knowing you!Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-26990960077447252912010-06-05T12:24:00.000-07:002010-06-05T12:25:59.946-07:00Stephanie KnappI became one of Avner's many students last year. He was truly a wonderful and inspiring professor who had so much to offer. I am saddened by his passing, and the posts here are all so touching. One need not look further to know this manwas loved and cherished. He will be greatly missed.<br /><br />May you rest in peace, Avner Magen. You will be forever loved and not be forgotten.Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-57380557593249795182010-06-05T12:21:00.000-07:002010-06-05T12:24:54.598-07:00Funda ErgunWhat a horrible loss of a wonderful person...<br /><br />I've known Avner for almost 10 years now. While at NEC in 2001 we would have the same conversation in bad Turkish every morning when we came in (he'd learned several expressions during his hikes in Turkey). Then he'd switchto Russian, of which I knew not a word but that never stopped him; to this day I don't know what he was saying. He would then claim that we should all learn Russian just so we can read Pushkin in the original language, I don't know if he himself ever did...<br /><br />Avner would always say the most absurdly hilarious things with a deadpan expression, and the most serious things with his crooked smile. I don't think it was clear to anyone which mode was which, and I am pretty sure that he did mean some (probably most) of the most absurdly funny things that he said. And these would come, unannounced, smack in the middle of a thinking session while working on a problem, followed buy a proof of a lemma. Never a dull moment with him!<br /><br />I fully expected Avner to do Everest one day; and I'm sure Iwasn't alone.<br /><br />Ayelet, it's impossible to imagine your and your family's pain; I do hope that some amount of control and normalcy will be restored to your lives soon. My deepest condolences, you are in our thoughts always...Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-33568629626739630252010-06-05T12:20:00.000-07:002010-06-05T12:21:33.000-07:00Shimi TagnerTo Ayelet, Roee, Noa And Ofri<br /><br />We are so sorry to hear about this tragic news. We are in shock and do not have the direct words to comfort Magen's family.<br /><br />Avner was a great father, a great husband and a above all a great person -- funny, Humble and a peaceful man.<br /><br />Ayelet, Roee, Noa and little Ofri -- we are hugging you from here and sending you all our love and support -- Be Strong.Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-3058010463682879562010-06-04T06:36:00.000-07:002010-06-04T06:37:24.873-07:00Nicola GalesiThis is a terrible and very sad news. I remember Avner as a friend although I knew him only for one year, when we shared our PostDoc there in 2002.<br /><br />He was really a very nice, enthusiastic, friendly, patient, brilliant, intelligent, deep and ironic friend and colleague: a beatiful person and a gentle spirit.<br /><br />That kind of person that after one hour together you would like to have him as a friend for ever. This is very very sad.<br /><br />My deepest condolences to his family.Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-66511345600415308062010-06-03T20:10:00.002-07:002010-06-03T20:11:15.767-07:00Eric & Jodi BlockWe shared only a few good times all together, but have so<br />much affection for Avner, Ayelet, Roy, Noa & Ofri. We met at<br />the AGO...Eric heard you speaking Hebrew, and being from<br />Halifax (where Hebrew is seldom heard), he still gets that<br />urge to speak to every Israeli he encounters (good thing we<br />don't live in Thornhill!). We started talking and somehow<br />made the connection that Avner and I were both<br />Russophiles...I couldn't believe it when I heard Ofri and<br />Avner speaking to each other in what is to both Avner and I<br />a 2nd/3rd tongue. Soon, we were making plans to have<br />dinner. Though we are so different in some ways (Eric's<br />idea of an ambitious hike is from Rosehill Ravine to the<br />Brickworks), we were immediately enamoured by your warmth,<br />your humour, your easy manner, and your incredibly<br />wise-beyond-their-years children.<br /><br />We've been in touch sporadically -- just because life gets<br />busy. I recall emailing Avner in the fall and laughing when<br />I got his response a day later apologizing for the delay<br />because he was (still, as he emailed me) in Tibet trekking<br />with Roy. I shared the message with Eric and we laughed, in<br />awe of his adventurous spirit and the vision of father and<br />son experiencing the wide world together. Amazing.<br /><br />Avner was in our lives but briefly, but we adored and<br />appreciated him as we do you -- his family -- even when out<br />of sight. Eric and I received word of his death this<br />morning, stood together reading of this tragic accident, and<br />cried for him, for Ayelet, and for Roy, Noa and Ofri. I<br />write this with tremendous sadness, and with a message of<br />outreach and friendship at this terribly difficult time.<br /><br />With love,<br />Jodi, Eric, Sophie & Faye BlockRichard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-210914286424486902010-06-03T20:10:00.001-07:002010-06-03T20:10:26.784-07:00Catherine XiaowenI'm so sorry to hear this tragic news. Avner was a great<br />father, a great friend, and a a great person. He love for<br />Nature will stay in many ways with his family, and with his<br />friends.<br /><br />I'm so sorry for Ajelet. They were the best couple that I've<br />ever known. Be strong, please, Ajelet, if just for the kids.<br /><br />He once took a series of pictures of a maple tree near UTS,<br />showing the changing color of the beautiful leaves. Now<br />whenever I pass that tree, I would remember him.Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-80621647903692216272010-06-03T20:09:00.001-07:002010-06-03T20:09:53.555-07:00Mark KoskieAyelet,<br /><br />I was so sorry to hear of your loss. Although I never met<br />Avner, I can see from the many tributes on this site that he<br />lived a life marked not only by accomplishments, but by joy<br />and love for those around him. I know that you shared these<br />values with him.<br /><br />It is true what they say, that "no one is really gone if we<br />find a way to remember them." I believe that in time, you<br />and your family will exemplify this statement by living your<br />lives to the fullest, as Avner did. My thoughts and prayers<br />are with you at this difficult time.Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-16794059986220459632010-06-03T20:08:00.000-07:002010-06-03T20:09:24.820-07:00Gil KalaiI was shocked to hear the terrible news. I remember Avner<br />from his days as a graduate student here in Jerusalem. Being<br />Nati's student he is sort of my academic nephew. Already as<br />a graduate student Avner had achieved important results on<br />metric embeddings. After Avner graduated we were not in<br />touch for some years but I always kept hearing great things<br />about him from common friends and from colleagues. Then<br />three weeks ago we started a correspondence on a problem<br />about two families of sets that Avner was thinking about<br />with his student Siavosh Benabbas. It looked like a very<br />nice problem and it was fun and interesting talking about it<br />with Avner. I wish we could go on.<br /><br />My condolences to Ayelet, the children and to all Avner's<br />family.Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-72070460523008759602010-06-03T20:07:00.000-07:002010-06-03T20:08:51.449-07:00Michael ShapiraFor some odd reason one of my most vivid memories of Avner<br />is him eating an apple. Well, this apple was sitting in the<br />fridge for some time then and there was something white that<br />spilled over it a while before and crusted, perhaps yogurt,<br />but it was the only thing that he could find in the fridge<br />at that late hour of a night shift in the army. He did that<br />with sort of a matter-of-factly attitude that he had, "this<br />will have to do and no need to think more about it." As I<br />recall, he was humming to himself while eating, returning to<br />his mathematical puzzle in the back pages of Scientifc<br />American. I don.t remember what he was humming, but I bet it<br />was David Bowie, or maybe the Sex Pistols -- he was<br />extremely fond of these two in those days -- go figure the<br />connecting thread. There was nothing about Avner that was a<br />cliche. He is probably the most original person I have ever<br />met. He didn't try to be this way, it just seemed to come<br />naturally to him doing whatever he found interesting, and<br />this included so may things, often so different.<br /><br />I didn't know Avner the family man well, this came later,<br />but the one time I saw him with his family, I think it was<br />about three months after his first child was born, Ro'ee,<br />isn't it? Seeing you two together made me start thinking<br />about having kids, something that never crossed my mind<br />before. I remember him swinging you in a blanket and both of<br />you looked so content. You had a quiet confident smile on<br />your face, and I thought, wow, this looks so right. I know<br />it must be very hard for all of you, but from what I saw<br />back then, and from what I read here, I'm also sure that you<br />have something of him with you that will stay with you for<br />ever.<br /><br />Daniela, my wife, knows this last story. I told her about it<br />a long time ago, before our daughter Amalia was born.<br /><br />Our thoughts are with you.Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735233340528333341.post-84367658156885373612010-06-03T07:07:00.000-07:002010-06-03T07:10:42.506-07:00Vassos HadzilacosI admired Avner immensely for the passion, dedication, and seriousness with which he pursued the things he loved. Thinking of his zest for life brought this passage from Tennyson's Ulysses to mind:<br /><br />[...]<br />I cannot rest from travel: I will drink<br />Life to the lees: All times I have enjoy’d<br />Greatly, have suffer’d greatly, both with those<br />That loved me, and alone, on shore, and when<br />Thro’ scudding drifts the rainy Hyades<br />Vext the dim sea: I am become a name;<br />For always roaming with a hungry heart<br />Much have I seen and known; cities of men<br />And manners, climates, councils, governments,<br />Myself not least, but honour’d of them all;<br />And drunk delight of battle with my peers,<br />Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy.<br />I am a part of all that I have met;<br />Yet all experience is an arch wherethro’<br />Gleams that untravell’d world whose margin fades<br />For ever and for ever when I move.<br />How dull it is to pause, to make an end,<br />To rust unburnish’d, not to shine in use!<br />[...]<br /><br />May we all have the courage to drink life to the lees, to shine in use --- as Avner did.Richard Zemelnoreply@blogger.com0